Dust collector



Oct. 12, 1954 R. MclLvAlNE 2,691,423

DUST COLLECTOR Filed June 14, 1951 2 Shees-Sheet 1 ou. 12, 1954 R. l.. Mmm/AINE 2,691,423

DUST COLLECTOR Filed June 14, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2A .ZUVENLUP-V' [Babe/@ri fcgya/'zze i@ @6.5; fa/mi L55 Patented Oct. l2, 1954 .UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DUST COLLECTOR f Robert L. Mcllvaine, Glencoe, Ill., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Herbert Simpson'Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application June 14, 1951, Serial No. 231,501

7 Claims. l

This invention relates to apparatus for removing dust or the like from a gas such as air. More particularly, the invention relates to dust col; lector apparatus in which liquid droplets are entrained in the dust-'laden gas before the gas is passed through the filtering means.

I n most dust collector devices of the prior art the dust-laden air to be cleansed is passed through a lter bed or beds while liquid such as water is introduced above or within the bed for wetting the filtering elements and for washing away the collected dust or sediment. In such an arrangement the water is constantly escaping down through the lter bed into a sump below where the heavy solids are settled out. It has been found that as the volume of air passing through the lter bed'is increased, it becomes increasingly difficult to pass sufficient water down through the bed against 'the upward air flow in order to keep thev bed clean. However, it has been found that the separation eiciency of the collector increases with the air yvelocity through the bed up to air ows substantially higher than those which can be utilized with inventions or arrangements of the prior art.

As a consequence, the dust collector of the present invention is constructed so that the water is f yintroduced into the dust-laden air below the `filter ybed and is permitted to travel upwardly with the air ow. A turbulent area consisting of dirty water is formed above the filter bed, and the height of this turbulent area is controlled by a darn with a drain return to the sump. With this arrangement, the overall pressure drop through the dust collector remains substantially constant With a constant air flow, and the flow of air can sucient water is constantly provided for keeping the bed clean.

The three dierent species of the invention `shown in the drawings are concerned with various different methods for introducing dust-laden air below the filter bed and for entraining the water in the air for impingement on the lower surface of the first bed.

It is an object of the present invention lto pron 4the dust-laden gas before the same is passed through the filtering means.

l be brought up to the most eiiicient flow since I A further object of the invention is to provide f l to provide a dust collecting structure in which dust-laden gas in introduced into a lower casing portion containing a supply of liquid with means therein for entraining a portion of the liquid in the gas before the same passes through a filter bed and including means for maintaining predetermined liquid levels for the liquid supply and for a turbulent area formed above the filter bed.

A still further'object of the invention is to provide a dust collector including a plurality of filter beds with means for introducing dust-laden gas below the lowermost lter bed and for entraining liquid in the gas before the same is passed through the various lter beds, said dust collector including turbulent level maintaining means above the lowermost filter bed.

A feature 'of the invention is the provision of a sludge conveyor for removing accumulated dust lor sediment from the dust-collecting sump.

Another feature is the provision of an air inlet arranged for entraining a portion of the liquid in the sump as the dust-laden air is introduced below the ltering means.

.A further feature of the invention is the provision of means for maintaining constant the liquid levels above the first filter bed and in the sump, respectively.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present-invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of three embodiments, by way of preferred examples only, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

- On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of one embodiment of the invention with some portions shown in elevation;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but illustrating a second embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, with parts in elevation, of a portion of a third embodiment of the invention.

As shown on the drawings:

A particularly efficient method of dust separation is provided by this invention and isv performed by the dust collectors illustrated in the three figures. This method comprises rst entraining liquid droplets in a dust laden gas, and then passing the gas and the liquid droplets in the same direction through tortuous llter channels such as those formed in a devious-pathed lter so that the dust particles will impinge upon the wetted filtering elements and will be continuously entrapped and washed upwardly to form a turbulent area ci dirty water above the filter. A given level of the turbulent area is maintained and the excess dirty liquid is directed to a sump. Hence, a constant overall pressure drop is maintained for a` given air iiow. The pressure drop is additionally prevented from becoming excessive by introducing the 'dustladen air below the filtering means but above a liquid level in the sump.

In Figure l a dust collecting apparatus is generally 'designated by the reference numeral ID. The vdust collector comprises a housing II, an inlet conduit I2 fora dust-laden gas such as air, an outlet I4 for clean air, a primary lter bed I5 and a plurality of secondary lter beds I6,

Vwith the lter beds arranged in seriesl between the inlet and outlet. 'A sump I'I is provided in the casing below the primary filter bed and contains a cleansing liquid such as water.

In order to maintain a predetermined water level IIa below the lter bed I5, a water inlet pipe I8 and a drain I9 'are provided.

The primary filter bed I5 preferablycomprises aioraminous tray 20, formed of wire mesh or the like, and supported on angles 2'I which have one leg axed to the inner walls ofthe casing II as by welding. Upstanding retainer sides 22 are provided above thetray 2U along the outer edge portions thereof. A plurality of discrete nlter elements are supported on the traybetween/the sides 22 and preferably 'comprise one layer of large spheroids 24 andseveral layers of smaller spheroids 25'with the largerspheroids forming the bottom layer resting on the tray 2G. The spheroids are preferably formed of non-corrosive material such as glass or the like.

The lter beds I6 may be of'similar construction with foraminous trays "26, Vsupport angl'es'2'I' but with somewhat shorter retaining sides'28'. Only a few layers of the'smaller spheroids 25 need ordinarily Vbe provided 'for vthese auxiliary filter beds.

According tothe present invention means are provided for entraining droplets of 'water from the sump I1 into dust-ladenair supplied by the inlet conduit I2 and for directing thek dust-andwa'ter-laden air upwardly against thefilter' bed I5. In the present instancesuch means comprisea liquid supply and air inlet structure"29 in the form 'of'an extension of the conduit I2. The supply structure 29 includes a short downwardlydirected water inlet'pipe 30' with the lowerv portion of the structure and the pipe "3B below the liquid level. The upper portion of the supply structure is above the liquid level so that the structure presents an air flow path which is restricted by the water disposedin the lower portion of the structure. An upturned deector portion 3I provides aninlet 32 and directs the dustand-water-laden air upwardly against the under surface of the'lterbed I5.

`Because of the restricted ilow path through the liquid supply structure 28,` the air flow will be turbulent and a substantial amount of water inthe form of droplets will become entrained in the dust-laden air. A substantial amount of the dust will cling to the water droplets, and when the air-dust-water mixture impinges on the spheroids 24 and 25, the same will become wetted so that the previously wetted dust will cling to the spheroids. Since devious now paths are provided between the various spheroids, the inertia of the unwetted dust particles will cause this dust to impinge upon the spheroids and to cling thereto. However, the upwardly traveling water droplets continuously wash off and carry upwardly the wetted dust to form a turbulent area of dirty water above the filter bed I5. In this manner almostall of the dust particles will be wetted and will remain behind in the dirty water above the lter I5 while the air will continue to travel upwardly.

The auxiliary lter beds I6 will serve to cleanse the air of the remaining dust particles by coaction oi the remaining water droplets with the spheroids 25 in somewhat the same'manner as the operationo the lter bed I5. Hence, the air passing through the outlet Il! will be substantially completely free of dust particles.

In order to induce the proper amount of air flow throughl the casing, an air pump (not shown) such as a centrifugal fan or blower may be-'pro- `vided in either the inlet I2 or the outlet I4 but preferably in the outlet.

The present invention includes means for controlling the height of the turbulent dirty water area above the primary filter bed I5 in order to insure consistent performance of the ldust collector and to prevent an unnecessarily high pressure drop therethrough. In the present instance such means comprise a drain aperture 34 with a dam 35 of a predetermined height defining the lower edge of the aperture. An overflow drain pipe 36 connects the overflow aperture 34 with the sump I'I so that dirty water overowing the dam 35 will be conducted back to the sump where the dust particles can settle out to form a sediment or sludge in the bottom portion of theA sump.

For removing the collected sediment vfrom-the bottom portion of the'sump, a flight type sludge conveyor 31 may be provided. As shown herein the sludge conveyor comprises a continuous chain 3'8, with ights 38, as trained about a rst'sprocket 33' located in the bottom of the sump anda sprocket 43 located at the upper end portion o'f a conveyor casing extension III slanting outwardly and upwardly from the bottom portion of the casing I I. 'The upper portion of the extension -4I is located above the level of the water in the sump. The chain 38 travels in the direction of the arrows so that accumulated sediment will be scraped up by the'ights and will travel upwardly out of the sump along the lower surface of'the housing 4I. An open top sludge container'l42 is provided below an opening 44 formed underneath the sprocket 40. Hence, the sediment particles will fall from the conveyor as itreaches opening 44 into the sludge container in'the'manner indicated in the drawing.

In order to insure that the dirty water fromthe turbulent area above the filter bed`|5 is dumped into the sump so that the heavier particles will be in position for quick removal by the sludge conveyor, the lower end ofthe drain pipe 36"'is disposed adjacent the upper surface of the belt-38.

In Figure 2 a second embodiment ofthe dust collector is generally designated by the reference numeral '50; 'Ihe dust collector '50"ccmprises a casing 5I, an air inlet conduit v52 which extends downwardly in the center ofthe'casingandan outlet conduit 54. A primary filterbed' and a plurality of secondary ilter beds 56, similar to the lter beds l5 and I6 and secured in the casing in substantially the same manner, have the inlet conduit 52 extending through the central portions thereof. A liquid inlet pipe 5`| and a liquid outlet pipe 58 are provided formaintaining a liquid level 59 in a sump 60. An overow aperture l6|, an overilow dam 82 and an overiiow drain 84 are incorporated for maintaining the proper height of the turbulent area above the primary filter bed 55 and for directing the overowing dirty water back to the sump 60. In order to remove contaminated sediment from the sump 80 a sludge conveyor 65 is arranged for conveying separated sediment upwardly and dropping the same through an opening 66 in a conveyor housing portion 81, into a sludge container 88 in the manner described in connection with Figure 1.

For discharging dust-laden air into the interior of the casing 5|, the inlet conduit 52 provides an inlet 89 at its lower end below the primary lter bed 55 and above the water level 58.` In order to entrain water in the incoming air and to direct the mixture upwardly against the lower surface of the lter 55, a liquid supply structure is provided. In this instance the supply structure may comprise a saucer-like baffle having a central downwardly extending vinlet pipe 1I, a central conical deector I2 disposed in spaced relation above the upper end of the pipe and an annular upturned deector edge portion 14.

kIt will be seen that the air will follow a path indicated by the arrows and will impinge upon the water in the liquid supply portion to entrain some of the water in the form of droplets with the resultant mixture being deflected upwardly by the deflector portion 'I4 against the lower surface of the lter bed 55. The air will travel upwardly through the filter beds 55 and 58 in a roughly annular casing section 'l5 afforded between the interior walls of the casing 5| and the exterior of the conduit 52. It is readily apparent that the filtering process is the same as described in connection with Figure 1.

In the third embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, a dust collector is generally designated by the reference numeral 80. This dust collector comprises a casing 8|, a primary filter bed 82, one or more secondary filter beds 84, a liquid containing sump 85, an air inlet conduit 88and an air outlet (not shown). Overflow control means 8'|, similar to the means described in connection with the previous two figures, are incorporated for maintaining a predetermined height of turbulent area above the lter bed 82. For maintaining a predetermined level of water 88 in the sump 85, an inlet pipe 89 and an outlet pipe 90 are provided.

For entraining water in the dust-laden air. entering the casing 8|, the water inlet pipe 89 is extended inwardly so that its inward open end overlies an upturned end portion 9| of the conduit 88 with the end portion 8| opening above the water level 88 and below the primary filter bed 82. Thus, it will be seen that the water is directed into the upwardly moving dust-laden air to become entrained therein and will be carried upwardly with the air against the lower surface of the lter bed 82. The ltering process continues on in the same manner as described in connection with Figure 1 with cleansed air being discharged at the dust collector outlet.

For carrying away accumulated sediment in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, a sludge conveyor system (not shown) similar to that shown in the previous figures may be employed.

Air pumping means (not shown) are preferably provided in the outlet duct systems of the two embodiments of the dust collector illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 in order to induce the required air flow through the dust collectors.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the particular filtering means illustrated since satisfactory results can be obtained with other devious-pathed lters.

From the above description it will be readily seen that the present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for removing dust particles from a gas stream. The ltering means are kept clean as the process continues so that, under ordinary conditions, the dust collector units of the present invention will operate fory long periods of time without necessity for shutdown. No auxiliary liquid pumping means and piping therefor are required for wetting and cleaning the lter bed. The air flow cap-acity ofthe dust collector units is greatly increased per square foot of lter bed area since it is not necessary for the cleansing liquid to travel in a direction'opposite to that of the ow of air. The increased air flow results in a substantially increased separation efficiency. In addition, no elaborate water flow contro1 means are required. l

In order to more or less uniformly impinge the air and water mixture over the filter bed area, it should bek noted that a plurality ofthe air inlet and water entrainment means shown in the drawings can be utilized in dust collectorA units of larger size.

. It will' be understood that modifications and variations may be eected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a dust collector'including a casing containing a liquid supply and a lter bed, means maintaining a given liquidievel below said filter bed,va saucer-like baiiie secured inthe casing and having a "generally horizontal portion below the liquid level with a generally annular edge portion extending upwardly above the liquid level, said bale including a depending inlet pipe secured in the central area of said horizontal portion, a deflector secured in spaced relation above said inlet pipe, a gas inlet conduit extending downwardly through said casing lwith an open -end below said lter bed and centrally located in spaced relation above said baffle, said conduit directing dust-'laden gas againsty the'liquidin said baile whereby a portion of the liquid is entrained in the gas and the dust-and-liquid-laden gas is directed upwardly against said filter bed by said vannular edge'portion, an outlet for clean gas on the other side of said filter bed whereby the gas passes through the bed and out the outlet and the dust and liquid in the bed are filtered out by the bed, and means maintaining a given level of dust-laden liquid above said ltering means. v

2. In a dust collector including a casing containing a liquid supply and filtering means above the liquid supply, an inlet between said iiltering means and said liquid supply for directing dust-laden gas upwardly, troducing liquid into the the liquid in the gas, an outlet for clean gas on the opposite side of said filtering means whereby the dust-and-iiquid-laden gas passes through gas stream to entrain a liquid inlet for in.

7 Said filtering..meansr and Vthe `dust and liquid in; thegas are filtered out by vtheiltering means, a ydam disposed at a predetermined height above .the ltering means to Vmaintain a given levelY of dust-laden liquid above the ltering means, and :drain means conducting liquid voverflowing said dam back to said supply.

l3. AIn a dust collectorincluding `a liquid bath, 4a'casing containing said liquid bath, a plurality of .filter beds disposed in series v.in the casing above the liquid bath, a duct :extending :generally horizontallyinto said casing and'having van upturnedopen end portion between the liquid bathand the lower filter bed, an increased diameter 'inlet conduit connected to said duct outside of said casing and directing dust-laden gas through the duct, a liquidsup-plypipe having an `inlet opening between said duct opening. and the lower filter bed forintroducing liquid into the gas stream to entrain the liquid in the gas, an outlet `for clean r.gas above said .filter bed whereby the dust-and-liquid-laden gas passes successively through the beds and out the outlet and the dust and liquid in the gas are filtered out by the beds, a darn disposed between the two lowermost lter bedsat a predetermined height above said lower bed to maintain a given level of dust-laden liquid above the lower bed, and drain means conducting liquid overflowing said dam back to said liquid bath..

4. In a dust collector system for removing dust particles from air by the entrapment of the particles in liquid, a liquid sump in which the liquid is maintained substantially at a given level, a lower iilter bed spaced` upwardly from said level, air inlet means for discharging dust laden air in said space between said level and said bed to entrain therein liquid priorto upward travel through said bed, -means defining a dam for dirt entrained liquid vabove said bed, overiiow means conducting liquid from said dam to said sump, means defining a turbulent area .above said dam, and an upper filter bed above said area through which washed air travels upwardly vfor removing liquid therefrom and whereby said removed liquid canv drain into said dam.

5In a dust collector system forremoving dust particles from air by the entrapment of the particles in liquid, a liquid sump in which the liquid isfmaintained substantially at a given level, a lower lter bed spaced upwardly from said level, air inlet means for discharging .dust laden air in said space between said level and said-bed to entrain therein liquid prior to upward travel through said bed, means defining a dam for dirt entrained. liquid above said` bed, overflow means conducting liquid from said dam tol said sump, means dening a turbulent area above said dam, and an upper filter bed above said ,area through whichwashed air travels upwardly for removing .8 liquiditheretrom and whereby' said removed liquid can :drain into saidadam, said filter' beds each com- ;prisingrsubstantial-ly spheroid elements supported -on-,a :foramiriousfmember the lowermost of which is vdisposed in close proximity to but spaced upwardly from said dust laden air discharge.

6. .Ina dustl collector system forremoving dust particles from airby theentrapment vof the par- `ticleszin; liquid, a liquid sump in which the liquidis maintained substantially at a given level, a lower` filter bed spaced upwardly from said level, air inlet means for discharging dust laden air in said space between said level yand said bed to entrain Vtherein liquid prior to upward travel through said xbed, means dening `a dam for dirt entrained .liquid above said bed, overflow means conducting liquid fromsaid dam tosa-id sump, means .defin- .inga turbulentareaabove said dam, and an upper lter bed above said area through which washed yair travels upwardly for removing liquid therefromand whereby .said removed liquid can drain intosaid. damsaid. dust laden air discharge being .,upturned in said space toward the underside of `said lower lterbed for directing both air and .liquid toward said lower filter bed. l Y

-7. In a dust collector system for removing dust particles from air by the entrapment of the particles in liquid, a liquid sump in which the liquid .is maintained substantially at a given level, a :lower iilter bed spaced upwardly from said level, air inlet means for discharging dust laden airfin said space between said level and said bed to entrain therein liquidprior to upward travel through said bed, means defining a dam for dirt entrained liquid above said bed, overflow means conducting liquidfrom said dam to said sump, means denningaturbulent area above said dam, an upper fllterbed above said area through which washed air. travels upwardly for removing liquid therefrom and whereby said removed liquid can drain into said dam, and` a deector in said space against which said dust laden air discharge im- Vpnges for changing the direction of flow of said airto 'direct it against the underside of saidlower 'lter bed.

"ReferencesCit-'ed inthe ille of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS vNumber Name Date :2,000,444 y Hechenbleikner May 7, 1935 V2,409,558 -Gunn Oct. 15, 1946 -2,580,703 Russell Jan. 1, 1952 2,609,062 Schreierret al Sept. '2, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number .Country Date L 41,531 France Jan. 28, 1933' ,535,422 GreatxBritain Apr. 9, 1941 544,699 Great Britain ,Apr..23,r`1942 ,699,8555 France Dec. A17,1930 

